Apparatus for drawing beer



(No Model.)

. METZGE AFPA S FOR DRAWI BEER.

No. 587,844. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN METZGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING BEER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of vLetters Patent No. 587,844, dated August 10, 1897.

Application led July l0, 1896. Serial No. 598,675. (No model.)

To @ZZ wiz/m, t may concer/t:

Be it known that I, HERMANN METZGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forDrawing Beer, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to apparatus used for drawing beer directly from the keg or barrel, and has special reference to the bush-and-bung mechanism.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient bushing.

A further object is to combine therewith certain elements by which the ordinary faucet of commercial use may be used; and the invention consists in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents asectional elevation taken through the center of a barrel-head, showing my improved bush and plug in position; and Fig. 2, a similar view showing the plug removed from the bush and a faucet inserted in operativeV position.

In the art to which this invention relates f it is well known that the thickness of the staves that form the barrel and the material that forms the head of the barrelor keg varies considerably, so that when the ordinary commercial bushings are used in connection with a thick barrel they leave a recess or space which rapidly fills with slime. This slime deteriorates or decolnposes and is almost impossible to wash out. It also leaves a disagreeable odor in the barrel and spoils the quality of the beer.

A further objection in the art is that bushings that are made of full thread to the shoulder 0r the entire length thereof when put in some barrels expose a portion of the thread, which also acts as recesses to catch the sediment and slime from the beer. This sediment, as above noted, is difficult to remove and tends to spoil or taint the liquid or beer. Again, it has long been desired to use the common ordinary Wooden faucet in connection with metal bungs; but those skilled in the art have never thought it possible to use such a faucet with the peculiar metal form of bush- Ihave discovered, however, that by the use of certain elements hereinafter described and peculiarly adapting the faucet to them it is possible to use a faucet substantially the same as the old style in an economical and efficient manner with my improved metal bushing.

Theprincipal objects of my invention,there fore,are to remove the objections above noted, provide an economical and efficient bushing, and adapt the ordinary wooden faucet for use in connection with a metal bushing.

In constructing a bushing in accordance with my improvements Imake a metal bush A and provide it with an upper shoulder portion ct, that is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the threaded or main portion a'. I further provide the bush with a portion a2, which is relatively smaller in diameter than the threaded portion, and which, as hereinafter described, holds the cork. Intermediate these portions the bushing is provided with a curved portion a3.

The bush is provided with an axial open- ,ing B, which is largest at the outside, so as to form an interior shoulder b and an opening b of smaller diameter. This smaller opening is practically the plug-opening, in which a cork C may be fitted, so as to prevent the liquid in the interior of the barrel-which interior is marked c-from escaping.

To adapt the ordinary faucet D for use in connection with my improved bush, as s hown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, I make its inner end d of relatively smaller diameterand provide a cushioned ring plug E, formedof rubber or similarqnaterial, which is slipped onto thertapered portion of the plug, so that such plug may be forced gradually into the bush, the taper acting to wedge the cushioning-plug and spread it to such an extent as to iirmly hold the same in pla/ce. From experiments I have found thatthe faucet will be sustained in position when the pressure in the inside of the keg or barrel is indicated at sixty pounds per square inch.

In operation the faucet, being provided with its cushioned ring plug, has its small end inserted so as to contact the cork C. A quick blow of a hammer or mallet drives the IOO cork in and seats the faucet in place, further inward twisting pressure only aiding to make a better engagement of the parts.

The advantages of my improvement Will be apparent to those skilled in the art from an examination of the drawings; but in dilating on the same it will be seen that I have made the thread portion of my bushing of a sizespeaking now of the length-less than the thickness of the minimum head of barrel or stave, so that if it be used in a thin-headed barrel the curved portion, as at a3, will be the exposed portion, also the smooth surface of the inner cork-holding portion of the bushing. If the material of the barrel in which the bush is inserted be of the maximum thickness, as indicated in the drawings, the bush will irmly rest against the material, leaving no opening or recess for the catching of the s limes, &c.

I claim- In apparatus for drawing beer direct from kegs, dan., a metal bushing provided with a threaded portion of a length less than the thickness of the material of the keg in which it is inserted, a shouldered outer portion for limiting the insertion of the bushing, a diametrically smaller inner portion adapted to hold a cork, a curved shoulder portion intermediate the thread and cork-holdin g portion, and a shouldered cylindrical axial recess with its larger opening outward, in combination Wit-h a receptacle having a bush-opening of corresponding shape as the outer contour of the bushing and adapted to be tightly and entirely fitted by such bushing, substantially as described.

HERMANNl METZGER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS F. SHERIDAN, THOMAS B. MCGREGOR. 

